be made of all. Thou shalt make the whole known. Behold it was sent to me. ‘Do not wait to go forth to the city Simyra till I come.’ Behold you know, the wars are exceeding mighty against me, but he comes not. I did march, and lo! the city of Ambi (’Aba) has been burned by me. You know that the chief and the principal men of this city have gathered with Abdasherah, and behold I did not march farther. Behold you know all that has been; and on this account . . . having asked my question of my prophet[1] behold I feared accordingly. Hear me speak—favorably as I trust (as to) coming; and you know that they strive with our country, who behold are men of good will. Because . . . your favor is strong . . . do not you urge . . . a message to this city, and out of its midst she sends to . . .”
86 B., a much-broken letter, supposed to be from Ribadda, mentions Batruna and Ambi.[2] Toward the end it reads continuously: “The King of the land of the Hittites behold is . . . to the sons of Abdasherah, for he hastens to despatch soldiers of the royal . . . and the neighboring places have joined: the lands of the King my Lord are made a desert, which the dogs bring to naught: they have mourned. If Neboyapiza fears the King my Lord will he not march on them, if the King my Lord will speak to the great man of the chief city—to the great man of the chief city of Cumidi[3] (Kamid) . . . to march to join . . . to me . . .”
41 B. begins with the usual salutation from Ribadda. “Behold I am a faithful servant of the Sun-King, and I confess that my messages have been sad for the King, as you own. The King my Lord shall hear the messages of his faithful servant, and Buri is sending out in the direction of the city Simyra and Hadar . . . has marched against you, and they have beaten us, and they have brought us low. (These foes?) are destroying in my sight, and I was ready (to go out?) with the Paka to keep watch in the presence of the chiefs of the governments. And my Lord shall hear the news. Now
- ↑ See letter 71 B. The sign has the meaning “oracle,” “prophet.” No doubt Ribadda had his diviners, like the kings of Assyria in later times.
- ↑ No. 53 B. is another short letter, much injured, which mentions Batrûn; and in this a town called “Sina” is apparently noticed, which, if the broken tablet can be so read, would be “Kefr Zina.” In 54 B. a city “Zina” occurs, but seems to be a clerical error for “Sidon.” The land of Mitana is also mentioned in 53 B.
- ↑ Neboyapiza had his own difficulties, as appears from his letters (96 B., 43 B. M.).
